LENNY BRUCE The Real Lenny Bruce • (Fantasy) What I Was Arrested For (Casablanca)

Okay, let’s face it; things have got a bit out of hand here. Lenny Bruce has become not only a martyred near saint, but also one hellofa commercial property—plays, movies, books, T-shirts (watch for the cocktail napkins).

Sure he was a funny cat, sure he was hassled a lot—and ain’t junkies always romantic after they’re dead? The truth of it is that he was a man with problems and insights who was funny in the earlier days of his career. Near the end of his life'he was so obsessed with legal transcripts and interpretations of legal points as to no longer be doing what he did best: holding up a bitter and funny mirror to the weaknesses and hypocrisy of humankind.

But Bruce was not the first free-association comic who got out there and winged it on the brain flashes and sound-of-word blowing, working not only with thoughts, but rhythms and soupds as well—ever hear of a dude named Lord Buckley? I’ll bet Bruce did, I can hear some of the Lord’s feelflow in Bruce bits...